JimHuaHin

When I first came to stay long-term in Thailand about a decade ago on a retirement visa I went to apply at two local banks, both said "no way", as I was not working. Both advised that I could go to the head offices in Bangkok and apply, which I did. Both applications were accepted, and months later letters informed me that my applications were rejected. Fast forward 7-8 years, one of the banks sent me a letter and asked if I wanted a credit card. Possibly this was because, of visa extension requirements, I have always maintained just over a million Baht in my account.

Paetongtarn is but the face, Taksin is the voice and the brain.

You mean CP?

No job in Thailand, as I am on a retirement visa; last job in homeland, university lecturer for 20 years, before that researcher, before that public/civil servant for a decade.

I spent a week in a private room on (I think) the 12th floor (it was 3-4 floors below the top of the building) about 6-7 years ago, for surgery. Food was good, none of the nurses spoke much English. However, my room was arranged through my then Thai gf, who was a nurse, and who had a close friend who was a senior nurse at the Hospital who "booked" the room for me. It is all about contacts!!! The head nurse on the ward told my then gf that they do not get many farangs in the ward. Maybe if you asked the doctor if you could get a private room, it may help. Good luck.

I gave up ironing my clothes about 45 years ago.

Correct me if I am wrong, but this is going to open a massive can of worms, and huge implementation problems for the TRD. Will income or taxable income be taxed? In other words, will Thailand recognize that certain income in country A is not taxable in country A, that country A allows for certain allowances and deductions which are not available in Thailand? Will all current Thai DTAs be strictly enforced, or will they have to be renegotiated/amended? How will people who have annuities or superannuation pensions, which have already been taxed when contributions were made, and are thus not taxed when payments are made, receive their annual reports which provide no indication of tax paid, as tax was paid many years in the past when contribution were made, successfully explain this to the TRD? (The Australian Tax Office understands this, but will the TRD?? Will the TRD demand that I get a valid authorized documents from the ATO/super fund stating how much tax was paid 40 years ago when I started paying super??) The conversion of daily, weekly, monthly, etc. foreign incomes, and allowances/deductions, to Thai Baht would mean that the TRD would have to provide a daily exchange rate for every global currency into Thai Baht. Which in turn will present a burdensome nightmare to the expat tax resident attempting to calculate their foreign (taxable) income in Thai Baht. Yes, it is doable, in advanced countries when the national taxation authority is automatically supplied income/tax data from all local employers, all local financial institutions, all government social welfare/security departments which provide government payments/pensions to the population, and various other government and private authorities. But, TIT.

Hi Matt, I shipped belongings, similar to yours, from Australia about 11 years ago. The shipping company will arrange customs, etc. through their Bangkok office - which should contact you about a week before your belongings arrive, ask you to go to their office with your passport, and Baht XXX to cover customs costs plus, maybe, about Baht 15,000 to facilitate a smooth processing of your belongings (do not resist this "smooth processing" extra, it will cause long delays and possible worse problems). My shipping company asked me to label each box/package with a description of the contents, and also an estimate of their value. I gave the company an excel file which listed box/package number 1, 2, 3, ...., very short description of contents (eg "book", "CDs", "paintings", "computer", etc.) and the approximate value of the contents of each box/package. I hope this helps.

A large newish university in southern Thailand which is physically located about 20 kms outside the provincial capital. The undergraduate degree programme I was referencing is in hospitality and tourism. I stated " 3-4 terms/semesters during the degree" - with 3 terms per academic year, with 4 academic years for the degree implies, at most, 4 terms over a 12 term degree, which is 33.3%. Although most Thai universities use semesters, some run some programmes on a term basis. However, the graduate (Masters) courses I have taught into have been run in intensive 3-week blocks. With respect, maybe you should check the medical programmes at all the universities you taught at; to my knowledge, and from observation, all medical students - doctors, nurses, pharmacists, etc. - are required to do numerous placements during the course of their studies.

And Putin complained that the West was supplying Ukraine with weapons, but he made no comment about China, India, North Korea, Syria, etc. supplying weapons to Russia.

Will "political" convicts and former "government officials" be included?

Unfortunately spidermike007 you are correct. Too many people seem ignorant of the long dark history of the CCP. Exporting the Chinese revolution was a important objective of Mao's China. This involved not only supplying material military support to "developing countries", but also sending CCP cadres to help/advise local revolutionaries and proving free scholarships to students from these countries to study at Chinese universities. A recent book by the Australian academic Clive Hamilton entitled "Silent Invasion" details the CCP's recent activities in Australia. Very scary stuff.

Yes, indeed. I read an academic article last year which stated that CP was the first foreign business allowed into China after the 1949 revolution and that CP had factories and other business interests in almost every province in China.

As noted, some full and part scholarships are available at many universities for highly intelligent students. Students loans are also possible. But, apart from the university fees, there are accommodation and living costs, and many degree programmes require students to go on work placement (for which they are generally not paid) for 3-4 terms/semesters during the degree. Generally these placements are not close to the universities and the students have to pay all costs.

Unfortunately, all too common. I have heard similar stories over the years, where people have gone to hospitals with "minor" symptoms, given some basic medications, then going back to hospital a day or two later with severe symptoms, given a more thorough examination, and finally admitted for treatment. Part of the problem is a lack of medical staff at many hospitals, and too many medical staff being required to work double shifts. A related problem is a lack of hospital beds.

This is despite many Thai media outlets having recent articles on how Taksin was selecting for ministerial posts. As an aside, we all remember last year when Taksin was at death's door, having to spend 6 months in hospital, and now .....

Agreed, but some powerful Chinese-Thai business families essentially control Thailand, and some of these families also have large business interests in China and are close key CCP officials.

Who is the real Prime Minister?

The de facto PM speaks.

Thailand has already shot itself in the foot again, the only questions are how much damage has been done and will Thailand "walk" again? From the post's heading we can guess that many countries recognize the advantages of having a vital largish expat retiree community, and the importance of maintaining that community through minimal bureaucratic burden - keep the customer satisfied. Although Thailand is willing to adopt modern technology to advance and make life easier, there is a strong xenophobic nationalistic under-current which keeps Thailand rooted in a mythical "glorious" past.

Part of China's plan for global dominance, which dates back centuries. Of course, this plan, in Thailand at least, is assisted by corrupt local officials who will do anything (including selling out their country) to get extra cash, and local Chinese-Thai business families wishing to curry favor with the CCP and/or seeking to enter China or expand their operations in China. Why are not the ultra-conservative ultra-nationalist Thais complaining about this Chinese "invasion" and destruction of Thai businesses? Their silence is deafening. At least Rama VI was very vocal in his concern about this "invasion".

Agreed on the luck. I doubt lawsuits initiated by farangs would work in Thailand.

Short answer is no way. About 12 years ago I lent Baht 30,000 to a Thai female friend (university educated, former nurse, who at the time was employed as a Municipal health officer). She said she had an urgent bill to pay, and would pay me back at the end of the month. At the time she owned (no borrowed money) a new Western-style house with a large swimming pool and a 1-2 year old Honda Civic (money from her parents and her ex-husband). As she had driven me around Prachuap, helped me find a good hotel to stay in for a few weeks in Pran Buri, and provided me a lot of local information about Hua Hin and Pran Buri districts, I thought fair enough. 12 years later, not a single Baht has been returned. During that time she has married and divorced 2 farangs (according to her they initiated the divorces). I occasionally "bump into" her a local mall. She tells me she thinks about the debt every day, and will pay me soon. The last time I saw her (last year, with her then new farang husband (number 3+)). I told her I am waiting for my money plus interest. She rushed away, dragging her husband behind her. Do not lend money, unless you are willing to count it as a loss.

I cannot but agree with rumak. About 6 years ago I had an inflamed prostrate impacting urine flow. My then gf (a Thai nurse with 25 years experience) took me (in pain) to the local hospital. The doctor gave me a 5/7 days course of ciprofloxacin tablets. I asked her if the medication was safe, she replied "yes, good song medicine" (my first mistake!!). The medication had little impact on my symptoms, so I was admitted to hospital for a five day course of IV ciprofloxacin. All good. About 3 years later, the same problem returned. Now separated from nurse gf, I took myself back to hospital, was admitted to the ER, and given the same medication. This time, I was better after 3-4 days, and then I did what I usually do with new medications, went to MIMS website and checked the medication. The US FDA issued an urgent warning about ciprofloxacin about 5 years ago, warning of potential permanently disabling side-effects and that the medication was contraindicated for those over 65 (I am 68 now). A few months later I started having problems with both my knees. Luckily the problems disappeared after a few weeks, but periodically return for a few days.

Agreed. But one key position (which cannot be named) has changed. The Thai people have also changed over the past decade or so, and the Thai economy is going south. Although the military leaders may support the status quo, many of the rank and file do not. Many many Red Shirts are angry at Taksin and the Pheu Thai leaderships' getting into bed with the military who killed so many of their supporters, family members and friends.. Interesting times ahead.